Market fresh Report - Week Ending Oct 12th Oct

Information courtesy of Sue Dod, Sydney Markets

Strawberries
Luscious strawberries from Queensland and WA continue to shine with excellent quality and flavour. Punnets are great value
Papaya
From Far North Queensland, fragrant papayas are rich in tropical flavour and packed with nutrients. Excellent buying this week
Blood Oranges
Snap up late season blood oranges, they are still top value
Fennel
Crisp and refreshing, Iceberg lettuce is the perfect way to add cFennel adds a burst of freshness to spring cooking with its crisp texture and subtle aniseed flavour. Low in fat and kilojoules, it’s delicious both raw in salads or lightly cooked. Try it in a chargrilled tomato, salmon and fennel salad for a vibrant seasonal dish. Large fennel bulbs are great value this week
Celery
Crisp, refreshing celery is the ultimate versatile veggie — perfect for adding crunch to salads, flavour to soups and stir-fries, or for enjoying raw with your favourite dip. Low in kilojoules yet full of fibre and nutrients, it’s a smart, tasty choice
Zucchini
Versatile and affordable zucchini are in excellent supply at your local greengrocer this week. Their mild flavour and tender texture make them a kitchen all-rounder — perfect for adding to spaghetti Bolognese, frittatas, meatloaf, pasta dishes, muffin cakes, or burger patties. For a lighter meal, try a chargrilled zucchini, rocket and prosciutto salad. Zucchinis are great value
Iceberg Lettuce
Iceberg lettuce remains a crisp and versatile favourite. Use it as a salad base, in wraps, or as edible cups for your favourite savoury mince filling.
Blueberries
Blueberries from Coffs Harbour are in well supplied, plump, sweet, and loaded with antioxidants. Punnets are terrific value
Peaches
The first flush of golden-fleshed peaches and nectarines from the NSW North Coast has arrived, signalling stone fruit season is just around the corner. Expect prices to drop as availability increases over the coming weeks.
Cauliflower
Queensland and Victorian cauliflowers are firm, flavoursome, and fantastic value. Use them in curries, stir-fries, or bake into a creamy gratin with ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan.
Asparagus
Australian asparagus is abundant, tender, and beautifully priced. Grill, roast, or pan-sear for a quick, healthy side — or stir through scrambled eggs with parmesan for an easy spring meal.
Mushrooms
Fill a paper bag with earthy, versatile mushrooms. Keep them handy to toss into pasta, salads, or simply barbecue until golden
Broccoli
Broccoli from Victoria and Queensland is a solid buy. Choose tight, firm florets with a deep green hue — perfect for steaming, roasting, or tossing through pasta
Mangos
Kensington Pride mangoes from the Northern Territory are ramping up supplies, offering that unmistakable summer taste
Bananas
Sweet, creamy bananas remain Australia’s favourite fruit and are a top-value buy. They’re ideal for lunchboxes, quick snacks, or baked into a banana, blueberry and chia loaf for something special.
Coriander
This is summer's standout herb. Fresh and vibrant, chopped through tomatoes with olives and fresh chilli, or mangos and avocado. Both coriander-inspires dishes are a standout and taste beautiful with grilled chicken and fish.
Cucumber
Lebanese cucumbers are crisp, cool, and excellent value. Add them to salads or toss with tomato, coriander, and a squeeze of lime for a fresh side dish or salsa topping.
Snow peas
Choose firm, bright green snow peas for the best crunch and flavour. Quick to cook, they’re perfect tossed in a hot wok with asparagus, garlic, ginger, green onions, and a splash of soy sauce for a simple, tasty side. .
Asian Greens
Fresh, leafy bok choy is in top form. Quick to cook and mild in flavour, it’s perfect for stir-fries, soups, or steamed with garlic and soy.


Seasonal Recipes - Spring


Grilled chicken with broad bean, avocado and olive salad
This delicious spring recipe from The Greengrocer’s Diet (published by Pan Macmillan RRP $39.99)is a sneak preview of the fresh tasting meals you can look forward to eating in spring. Those of you who need to lose a few kg's before the warmer weather kicks in, may want to buy a copy of this excellent book from your local greengrocer, book store or on line.

Mango, lime and toasted sesame filo cups
These are fun, yum and relatively low in energy. I tested them for the first time with a bunch of friends over for dinner and the general consensus was a big thumbs up. I also tested my blood sugar levels after eating them and they stayed well within a health range. ( note - everyone's blood glucose response is different ) The recipe makes 12 ( 2 per serve) I served them with the choice of coconut yoghurt or coconut ice-cream.

Crispy Skin Salmon Fillets with Bean Mash and Mango Salsa
When you use fresh herbs and seasonal produce there’s no need to bombard a dish with fat and salt for flavour. Unless of course it’s good fat. This is a recipe that is packed full of flavour and contains essential Omega 3 fats. It’s a beautiful dish to look at, it tastes delicious and it’s very easy to make.

Smoked trout with vegetable spaghetti
This, from the spring section of The Greengrocer’s Diet book, is a simple low-energy meal that is perfect for people trying to lose weight. Smoked trout is packed with flavour which you really need when serving a vegetable like this.

Leek and Celery soup with crunchy croutons
Simple, cheap, and tasty. The croutons turn it from being slightly boring unless it's served with something on the side. And they are especially good to make when the bread is turning a bit stale.

Japanese miso and tofu soup
This is one of my favourite soups to make. It's super-easy and you just feel like it's doing you good with each spoonful. To maintain the probiotic properties of the miso, bring it to a boil slowly and turn the heat off within 2 minutes of boiling

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